The Trinamool Congress on Saturday warned its candidates for civic polls against violence and resorting to harsh tactics and said those found violating the decree would be thrown out of the party. Polling for the 144 wards of Kolkata Municipal Corporation will be held on December 19.
During the day all 144 TMC candidates had a closed-door meeting, which was mainly addressed by the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. “Our leader Abhishek Banerjee has categorically stated that the party will not tolerate the use of any coercive tactics or violence during the KMC elections.
One of the TMC candidates and former mayor-in-council,” he has categorically stated that if anyone violates the party’s decree, he will be thrown out of the party, irrespective of the top leadership and his stature. Be close to them.” KMC Tarak Singh told reporters after the meeting. Echoing them, senior TMC leader and former city mayor Firhad Hakim said the party was confident of getting the mandate of the people, considering the development work done in the last ten years.
“If anyone is found using strong-arm tactics, he will have to face strict action,” he added. Hakim, a contestant from ward number 82, said, “During the meeting, Banerjee insisted that we should respect the decision of the people. TMC believes in upholding democratic principles.”
The warning comes days after senior Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy created a flutter when he said that the party would not accept any form of violence by candidates during the upcoming civic polls as it was being faced during the 2018 panchayat polls. A heavy price had to be paid for this. According to TMC sources, Banerjee has also sent a message to the rebel members who have decided to fight as an independent, asking them to follow party discipline.
Hakim said, “Abhishek Banerjee has asked those who have not got tickets, to work for the party and participate in the election campaign. Those who have filed nominations as independents have not done the right thing. They should also follow party discipline.” The ruling party asked the candidates not to organize large rallies amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but instead focus on arranging small meetings in every ward.
The TMC, which won 125 of the 144 wards of the KMC in 2015, has refused tickets to 39 sitting councilors this time. TMC General Secretary Partha Chatterjee said party supremo and Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee KMC will address two public meetings in the city as part of the election campaign.
Responding to TMC’s decree for candidates, state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said it only shows how elections are conducted under TMC rule. “This proves that the allegations of vote rigging and violence are completely true,” he said.
Senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty wondered whether the instructions would resonate on the field. “The instructions issued by the TMC establish the fact that TMC had used strong tactics in the past to win the elections. But we doubt that these directions will have any impact on the ground,” he said.
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